Serena grinds out a first-round victory

Williams struggles with serve, is displeased with her performance

Associated Press

Updated 12:00 am, Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Photo: GLYN KIRK

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US player Serena Williams reacts after a point against Switzerland's Amra Sadikovic during their women's singles first round match on the second day of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 28, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEGLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images less

US player Serena Williams reacts after a point against Switzerland's Amra Sadikovic during their women's singles first round match on the second day of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn ... more

Photo: GLYN KIRK

Serena grinds out a first-round victory

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This was not the Serena Williams the tennis world is used to seeing on Centre Court. It was still good enough for the defending Wimbledon champion to advance to the second round in straight sets.

Struggling on serve and failing to dominate against a 148th-ranked Swiss qualifier playing in her first Grand Slam tournament on Tuesday, Williams labored to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Amra Sadikovic — the 80th match win of her Wimbledon career.

What looked on paper like a mismatch turned into a tighter contest than expected.

"I never underestimate anyone," said Williams, who had only four aces and served five double-faults. "It was a really good match but I don't think it was tougher than I thought. It was definitely tough, but I always expect the best from everyone."

With her mother, Oracene Price, watching from the Royal Box, the six-time Wimbledon champion jumped out to 3-0, running off 13 points in a row, defying her reputation as a slow starter.

"I started fast, that's about it," Williams said when asked what positives she took from her performance.

Since winning last year's title, Williams has come up short in the majors, losing in the semifinals at the U.S. Open and finals of the Australian and French Opens. She needs one more Grand Slam championship to equal Steffi Graf's Open-era record of 22 titles.

On the men's side, second-seeded Andy Murray followed Williams on Centre Court and cruised to a trouble-free 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win over Liam Broady, a British wild-card entry ranked No. 235.

In the first all-British men's meeting at Wimbledon since 2001 and first at a Grand Slam since 2006, Murray was in command from start to finish. The 2013 Wimbledon champion toyed with the left-hander, who failed to break Murray.

"It's not that easy playing someone you know so well, but I did OK," Murray said.

Murray piled up 31 winners, including a forehand drop shot on match point.